The Equestrians
Posted to the Project on 14 May 07
A photographic tour of the equestrian monuments at Gettysburg. All of the Union corps commanders at Gettysburg have equestrian monuments with three exceptions: Third Corps commander Dan Sickles, Fifth Corps commander George Sykes, and Cavalry corps commander Alfred Pleasanton. Of the Confederate commanders, only Longstreet and Lee have been honored with stautes. A.P. Hill and Richard Ewell were Confederate corps commanders but they do not have any monuments.
The Army Commanders
George Meade and Baldy, the Army of the Potomac
Mounted on his famous horse “Old Baldy” (who was wounded at Gettysburg), General Meade stands gazing across the field towards General Lee. Meade’s staute is located on Cemetery Ridge near the current visitor’s center on Hancock Avenue. It was dedicated June 5, 1896. Meade died in 1872. His battle scarred Old Baldy greatly outlived him.
Robert E. Lee and Traveller, the Army of Northern Virginia
General Lee’s monument, executed by Frederick Sievers sits atop the Virginia state memorial. This is widely reputed to be one of the best equestrians executed. It is located on West Confederate Avenue near where Lee watched the Pickett - Pettigrew - Trimble Charge on July 3, 1863. The sculptor studied Traveller’s skelton (then on display at Washington and Lee) and a horse of similar build and bearing to cast an incredibly life-like animal. The likeness of Lee is said to be one of the best. This monument was dedicated on June 18, 1917. The stautes were cast by Tiffany’s studio in New York.
The Corps Commanders
John Reynolds, Union I Corps
Located along the Chambersburg Pike (US 30) tothe west of Gettysburg where the battle opened, this staute was dedicated July 1, 1889 — the 26th year after the General’s death at Gettysburg. It was erected by the state of Pennsylvania to honor her fallen son who helped save the Union. Reynolds was killed yards from this statue’s location and was a native of nearby Lancaster. At over 900 pounds, the staute is something of a wonder, being balanced only on two hooves.
James Longstreet and Hero, Confederate I Corps
Located on Seminary Ridge between the Missisippi and Louisana Monuments and the Florida Monument in “Pitzer Woods,” this monument is one of the most lampooned at Gettysburg due to the fact that the horse seems too small and the fact it is on the ground and not on a pedestel. It is one of the field’s newest monuments. The staute was built with private funds. It was dedicated in July 1998.
Winfield Scott Hancock, Union II Corps
Commander of the Army of the Potomac’s Second Corps, Hancock’s monument sits on East Cemetery Hill (along the Baltimore Pike) facing the Evergreen Cemetery gatehouse. Hancock appears to be in motion, calming his troops, appearing larger than life.
This monument was dedicated in the late 1880s or early 1890s. Hancock’s monument could have gone just about anywhere at Gettysburg because he was very active on all three days.
John Sedgwick, Union VI Corps
A native of Connecticut, “Uncle John” Sedgwick was the commander of the Union’s largest corps at Gettysburg. Much beloved by his men, he was killed in May 1864 at the battle of Spotsylvania. His monument is located on Cemetery Ridge along Sedgwick Avenue just north of Little Round Top behind a small knoll. The horse is probably his favorite, Cornwall.
Oliver O. Howard, Union XI Corps
Howard’s staute stands on East Cemetery Hill, just to the north of Hancock’s monument. Interestingly, the two monuments basically ignore one another. There was controversy over which man was actually “in command” for a period at Gettysburg. Howard’s men fought here and north of town. Howard died in 1909.
Henry W. Slocum, Union XII Corps
Henry Slocum was the senior Union corps commander at Gettysburg and he commanded the XII Corps which fought on Culp’s Hill. Slocum’s monument is located on a spur between East Cemetery Hill and Culp’s Hill known as Steven’s Knoll. Steven’s Knoll was an artillery location during the battle. Slocum survived the war and was an attorney post-war.